Is the air quality good in Kraków?
On January 6, 2026, at 3:00 AM Pacific Time (PT), Kraków, Poland is experiencing poor air quality due to regional emissions and stagnant weather. The AQI is 184, classified as "unhealthy" with PM2.5 concentrations dominating.
These conditions can affect everyone, with increased health risks for children, older adults, pregnant people, and those with heart or lung diseases. Reducing outdoor activity and taking protective precautions can help minimize symptoms such as respiratory discomfort and irritation.
Air quality is dynamic and, like the weather, can change frequently. Krakow ranked 9th among the most polluted cities in the world on Tuesday morning (local time), with nearby cities like Warsaw, Poznan also affected.
Click here for a real-time air quality map of Krakow.
While the air quality conditions today are unusually poor, it is important to keep in mind that the average PM2.5 concentration in 2024 for Krakow was 17.7 µg/m³. This corresponds to an AQI of 62, which falls into the moderate category and was 3.9 times the WHO annual guideline.
Krakow, Poland ranked as the 9th most polluted major city on Jan 6, 2026. Source: IQAir.
When will air quality improve in Kraków?
Air quality in Kraków is forecasted to improve by Wednesday. Pollution levels are expected to decline into the moderate range as meteorological conditions become more favorable for dispersion.
Hourly air quality forecast for Krakow, Poland on Jan 6, 2026. Source: IQAir.
Air quality map of Krakow, Poland on Jan 6, 2026. Source: IQAir.
What is causing poor air quality in Kraków?
The primary driver of poor air quality in Kraków is fine particulate matter (PM2.5), mainly linked to residential heating during the colder season.
Although solid fuels are banned within the city, significant emissions continue to originate from neighboring municipalities where coal and wood-fired boilers and older, manually fed stoves are still in operation (1).
Under stagnant weather conditions, these emissions build up and are transported into Kraków from surrounding areas, intensifying PM2.5 concentrations and resulting in degraded air quality across the city (2).
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How can I protect myself from poor air quality?
- Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
- Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
- Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
- Stay indoors when air quality is poor; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
- Run a high-performance air purifier to filter particles, gases, and other pollutants.
